Venezuela's Machado vows to return to aid quake victims

Machado had been living in hiding in Venezuela after claiming victory in the country's disputed 2024 election. She secretly left Venezuela by boat in December to travel to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which she later presented to U.S. President Donald Trump. Her desire to return has reportedly caused friction in Washington, where she has been asked to delay her reentry. A White House official confirmed that Machado has contacted U.S. administration officials, including those at the White House and State Department, as well as members of Congress, to seek support for her potential return.

The capture of former President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces in January had led some opposition figures to expect Machado to play a leading role in governing Venezuela. However, Trump has expressed support for Maduro's former deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, stating that Machado currently lacks the necessary backing to lead the country in the short term. Machado had previously indicated before the earthquakes that she anticipated returning to Venezuela before the end of the year.